Marriage

​Information on marriage registration and certificates. Find out how to marry in British Columbia, order a marriage certificate, change a marriage record, and search for a marriage licence issuer or marriage commissioner.

Services and information topics

Marriage Commissioners

Marriage commissioners provide couples with flexible nonreligious options for their wedding. Any person performing a marriage ceremony in B.C. must be registered with the Vital Statistics Agency. Use our online search to find a marriage commissioner in your area.

Marriage Licences

You need to buy a marriage licence within the 3 months before your wedding date. Only one person in the couple needs to apply for the marriage licence. They must apply in person and show primary identification for both people getting married.

Marriage Registration

At any wedding in British Columbia, the couple, two witnesses and the officiant marrying them must sign the Marriage Licence and Registration of Marriage after the ceremony has been performed.

Marriage Certificates

Every couple marrying in British Columbia receives a marriage certificate by mail once Vital Statistics has registered their marriage. On average, couples receive their marriage certificate three weeks after the wedding takes place.

Search of Marriage Records to Prove Freedom to Marry

If you are planning to marry abroad, the country where you are marrying may require you to prove that you are free to marry.

After marriage, either one of the couple can choose to use:

  • The same last name as your new spouse
  • The last name of a previous spouse by marriage
  • The last name that is on your birth certificate
  • A combined last name made from two last names (from birth or marriage), in either order, joined with a hyphen or a space

The Name Act says that you can legally assume your spouse’s last name without applying for a legal change of name. You can also return to the use of your previous name at any time.

Be aware that a Legal Change of Name is a different process, which changes the name listed on your birth certificate, and you would need to complete a second change of name to return to your previous surname.

If you are getting married in another country, you must follow the marriage laws of that country. Some foreign countries require non-residents to provide a document confirming that they are eligible to marry. Vital Statistics can search British Columbia’s marriage records and provide you with a document that states whether you have married in this province.

To complete transactions in person, find a Service BC location near you.

Mailing Address
Vital Statistics Agency
PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9P3

Phone
Victoria
250-952-2681

Toll-free within B.C. 
1-888-876-1633

Email us